In my opinion, this is as close to “inside the mind of Manson” as you’re gonna get. This book is written by Nuel Emmons. It was basically dictated to him over time spent with Manson at the prison. The things told in this book go way beyond the Tate-LaBianca murders. It even goes beyond the murders of Gary Hinman and Shorty Shea. There was a lot of information in this book. Do keep in mind that this is all coming from Manson himself. So, take it with a grain of salt. I say that NOT because he was a convicted criminal OR because he was in prison. To me, the decisions that land a person in prison or jail (two different things people, I promise you) do NOT always define them as human beings. Everybody makes mistakes, everybody makes bad choices. Some worse than others. And none of us wants to be judged solely on a bad decision we made thirty or more years ago (if you are old enough to have thirty plus years of past and screw ups, that is). Personally, if I were judged solely on any one bad decision I made in my younger years…I’d be screwed. So, ya know, stuff happens. However, it is well known that Manson had a tendency to over exaggerate, bolster, embellish or flat out lie about things he either was or was not involved in, things he did or said, didn’t or do or say, that he put on a “crazy” act to intimidate or scare…or fascinate. The truth is, Manson probably didn’t think much of himself as a man or even a human being. We learn so much in this book about his thought processes and get some real insight to this little man’s methodology. We learn about how he pinpointed the lost and lonely because he himself was lost and lonely. He searched for belonging and friendship only to find that he didn’t belong anywhere. So, he created a world for himself where he WOULD belong…and be important. I decided that because there was so much information in this book that I would do the review and then write a separate article about the actual detail of the content of the book. This was an interesting and fairly fast read. There are many times you can catch the contradictions and hypocrisy of Manson if you pay attention. He was very chameleon-like in the way he would change little parts of his persona to fit the circumstances he was in or trying to achieve. There aren’t a whole lot of parts that will give you chills or make you want to vomit or anything but, there are definitely many claims made by Manson that might shock you or make you feel uneasy. I do think that anyone who has done a lot of research on Manson, as I have, will actually be a little annoyed at his repeated claims of being a victim and the refusal to take responsibility for almost anything. If you EVER wanted to know what Manson was like when the cameras weren’t on and his name wasn’t on the front page of every newspaper, then read this. RATINGS 5/5 Stars
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This is the novel version of the premiere issue of The Toking Dead. This was such a fun read. I got the comic book when it first came out and I loved it. The story was great. But, as with all comic books, you can’t put every little thing in such a limited amount of space, so you consolidate. By publishing the first issue in the form of a novel/novella you get a better sense of what lead up to and actually happened in the story up to the end of the first issue.
This version has only a few sketch art drawing in it but, the art isn’t the point in this book. Here it is definitely the writing. These two guys who got together to make this dream a reality have such great humor, such creative and vivid imaginations and a talent to put it all down on paper for us to enjoy. It is obvious after talking with these gentlemen and seeing and reading their work that they truly love making comic books and actually take pride in and enjoy their craft. Sometimes the jokes are things we all think and don’t say but, these guys say it through their characters. And they say it perfectly! I also thought their bios in the “about the authors” on the inside of the back cover were an honest, down to earth introduction of who these two men really are. Great guys! This was a fun read even though I already knew the story. It allowed me a chance to imagine things along with the authors. This was also a fast read. It’s about forty-five pages. A quick little horror edible for you to munch on. In addition to all that, this is a fantastic was to introduce yourself or a friend to the series, especially if they aren’t comic lovers like us. It’s a nice transition from all print book to comic books. Give it a shot. Everyone loves zombies, right? I hope you get a chance to pick this up. You won’t be disappointed. RATINGS 5/5 Stars This is the first volume of (hopefully) many to come. I have been a big fan of Ciofki’s on Instagram for a while now. He is a very talented writer who specializes in “bite size stories” to entertain and disturb his readers. The title alone, Goth-Ick tales should tell you that these are going to be fantastically gory stories of fear, revenge and death.
This collection of 101 short stories has something for everyone. There’s death, blood, murder, gore, revenge, dark comedy, hauntings and paranormal activity, thrillers, suspense, myths and urban legends and more. Anything you could want in a short horror story, this book has it. The fact that each story is basically a paragraph makes for a very fast read but, leaving enough that it is truly entertaining. Each story touches on something, sparks something that makes you want to keep turning pages. And at just at one hundred pages (give or take) these pages with fly through your fingertips. Even though these tales are quick and short, they are NOT short on horror in any way. I personally think it takes a certain skill and talent to write a five sentence story that actually makes sense and has a point. The addition of the horror and chilling lack of too many details leaves a lot open for interpretation and that can always make horror fun. The human mind has a way of filling in the blanks with the worst possible scenarios available. This first volume is titled “101 Damnations” and I think that is the perfect title for this book. But, the stories are just really good old fashioned horror brought to the modern age in a very unique and talented way. It reminded me a lot of “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” from my childhood. I loved that series. Those stories were perfect for birthday parties, sleepovers, story time around campfires. I can totally see these stories being the perfect stories for campfire tales and Halloween frights. I really think any horror fan would like this. Again, the stories are so short it’s not like it’s going to take a long time to get through one story. Hell, you could still read one a day and be perfectly satisfied. If you want to follow Ciofki, you can find his social media tags below. Also, I have included where to buy this book because I know you ALL will want it. Thanks for reading!!! Hope you enjoy this as much as I did! RATINGS 5/5 Stars Facebook: @gothIckTales Instagram: gothicktales Twitter: @gothIckTales Ko-Fi: Ciofki To purchase on Amazon click HERE. |
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